A review for Irish Times Culture of the celebratory and "seriously fun" new album by one of the great (if at times criminally underappreciated) drummers in modern jazz, Matt Wilson (Matt Wilson)... Ann Braithwaite irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

'The Dublin Concert by Louis Stewart & Jim Hall' from 1982 to be released londonjazznews.com/2024/07/10/the…

A review for Irish Times Culture of the outstanding debut album by Lux Quartet, a kind of modern jazz supergroup led by pianist Myra Melford and drummer Allison Miller (Allison Miller), featuring saxophonist Dayna Stephens and double bassist Scott Colley... irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

A lead album review for Irish Times Culture of Milton + esperanza, the "dream-come-true" collaboration between gifted US bassist/singer/composer Esperanza Spalding (esperanza spalding) and venerated Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento (Milton Bituca Nascimento)... irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

I wrote the sleeve notes to this new album from Ireland’s Livia Records: The Dublin Concert, a previously unreleased 1982 duo recording featuring two modern guitar masters, Louis Stewart and Jim Hall, at their very best. It’s quite a story and discovery. liviarecords.com/product/louis-…

A profile for Irish Times Culture of the upbeat and uplifting London band Ezra Collective – the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize – and their inspirational drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso (Femi Koleoso)... Partisan Records irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

I wrote the liner notes to this extraordinary album from Red Hook Records... Breaking the Shell, featuring "a unique and highly anticipated new collaborative trio" of guitarist @BillFrisell, pipe organist Kit Downes and drummer Andrew Cyrille. redhookrecords.com/rh1006

I will be presenting a Listen Back session on @BillFrisell's 1999 album Good Dog, Happy Man – "a deceptively simple and quietly timeless masterpiece" – Cork City Libraries, Weds 23 October, 11am. FREE! All welcome! Guinness Cork Jazz Nonesuch Records More here… journalofmusic.com/listing/15-09-…

A profile for Irish Times Culture of the mesmerising Pakistan-raised, Brooklyn-based vocalist and composer Arooj Aftab, whose “global soul” music is a remarkable commingling of classical south Asian singing, jazz, alt-folk and ambient. arooj aftab Verve Records National Concert Hall

A review for Irish Times Culture of Odyssey, the exhilarating new album by the London-born tenor saxophonist, composer and bandleader Nubya Garcia – a multilayered mix of jazz, classical, dub, neo-soul and R&B. Concord Jazz irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

I'm really excited to have Philip Watson in to present this wonderful album on Wed 23 Oct. His biography on Bill Frisell is essential reading. ‘A beautiful and long overdue portrait of one of America’s true living cultural treasures.’ John Zorn irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arts…

Just spotted that Cork-based journo Philip Watson Philip Watson will be talking about American guitarist Bill Frisell on Weds 23rd Oct at 11am at Cork City Library as part of Guinness Cork Jazz. Philip did a brilliant biography of Frisell a couple of years back

A profile for Irish Times Culture of the “meditative and luminous” Danish guitarist Jakob Bro, who plays in a trio with double bassist Thomas Morgan Thomas Morgan and drummer Joey Baron Triskel Arts Centre on Sunday as part of Guinness Cork Jazz. Link (“subscriber only”)... irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

Two 4-star live reviews for Irish Times Culture from the recent Guinness Cork Jazz: the “resonant, romantic and richly textured baritone” of Californian vocalist and songwriter Gregory Porter; and the “versatile and virtuoso” Danish percussionist, composer and bandleader Marilyn Mazur.

In a very good year for jazz in Ireland, and with around 40 first-rate and fantastically diverse releases to consider, I eventually managed to settle on a “Top Five Irish Jazz [and Beyond] Albums of 2024” for Irish Times Culture. Link (subscriber-only)... irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

My votes in various categories for the estimable annual Francis Davis Jazz Critics Poll – 177 ballots brilliantly organised and compiled by Tom Hull. Full results to be published soon The Arts Fuse and at hullworks.net…

A profile for Irish Times Culture of the Irish jazz pianist, composer and living legend Jim Doherty, whose jazz ballet suite Spondance will be performed National Concert Hall Dublin on Fri Feb 28, the same day Livia Records reissue the album on CD and Bandcamp download. irishtimes.com/culture/music/…

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